Top 50 Things to Do: Plan the Ultimate Trip to Winston-Salem

If you’re visiting Winston-Salem for the first time and aren’t quite sure where to start, we’ve got you covered.

From centuries-old streets and museums to scenic lakes and trails, Winston-Salem makes it easy to fill a weekend with memorable experiences. Add in the arts and foodie scene, and we’re sure you’ll be planning a return trip before you’ve even left.

Here are our Top 50 suggestions for things to do in Winston-Salem and the surrounding area.

Arts & Culture

Purchase tickets at the Old Salem Museums & Gardens, where costumed interpreters bring centuries of Moravian history to life. Stop inside the shops and historic buildings as you make your way through the district.
Tour Reynolda House Museum of American Art, the former home of R.J. and Katharine Reynolds. American artwork hangs throughout rooms that still feel like a grand family residence instead of a traditional museum.
Wander downtown in search of public art, from colorful murals covering entire walls to sculptures tucked between buildings. The Downtown Arts District is an especially good place to start. Want to create your own art? Head over to Dabble Art Bar just minutes from downtown where you can try a new-to-you craft.
Spend a few hours exploring Winston-Salem’s art museums. See exhibitions at North Carolina Museum of Art, Winston-Salem, Southern decorative arts at MESDA, or works highlighting African-American art and culture at Delta Arts Center.
Step inside Körner’s Folly in Kernersville, where narrow staircases, unexpected room sizes and ornate architectural details make the historic home feel unlike anything else in the area. Other interesting museums in Kernersville include the Kernersville Auto Museum and the Kernersville Historical Museum.
Hands-on exhibits at Kaleideum cover everything from engineering and nature to art, plus there’s a rooftop playground overlooking the city, making it a hot spot for families with kids.
See downtown after dark on a Carolina History & Haunts Ghost Tour. As you walk along quiet streets, guides mix local history with legends and stories of the city’s more mysterious past.
Make your hotel part of the experience by staying somewhere with history of its own. Sleep inside a renovated mill at The Historic Brookstown Inn, stay in the former R.J. Reynolds headquarters at The Kimpton Cardinal Hotel, or book a room at the sprawling Graylyn Estate.
Explore Historic Bethabara Park, the site of the first Moravian settlement in the Piedmont of North Carolina.
Dig deeper into Winston-Salem’s African-American history on a guided tour around the historic Happy Hill neighborhood where you’ll see the Shotgun House (open for tours by appointment), the nearby St. Philips Moravian Church, and more.

Outdoors

Paddle on Salem Lake by kayak or stand-up paddleboard with the wooded shoreline stretching around you, or go fishing and take a walk at the Village Point Greenway and Fishing Pier in Clemmons. Here is a list of places nearby Winston-Salem that offer trail systems for walking, hiking, and biking: Salem Creek Greenway, Salem Lake Trail, Tanglewood Park Trails, Quarry Park + Waughtown Connector Trails, Long Branch Trail, Historic Bethabara Park Trails, Hanging Rock State Park, and Pilot Mountain State Park.
Take one of the many tours offered by Triad ECO Adventures. Cruise along the Salem Creek Greenway on an e-bike or Segway tour, where you’ll see the city’s iconic landmarks and learn more about their history. Join them for a SUP tour on Salem Lake or take one of their City Trolley Tours. They also offer e-bike and SUP rentals.
Spend a day at Tanglewood Park, where walking and biking trails wind past open fields and through wooded sections of the property. You’ll also find golf, horseback riding, and other activities at the park located in nearby Clemmons.
Wander among seasonal blooms at Paul J. Ciener Botanical Garden in Kernersville. More than 15 themed garden spaces include everything from colorful annual displays to raised garden beds.
Take a slow walk through Reynolda Gardens, where formal flower beds transition to wooded trails. The gardens are free to explore.
Spend a summer evening at Truist Stadium cheering on the Winston-Salem Dash or at Bowman Gray Stadium, better known as the Madhouse. Grab ballpark food, enjoy the atmosphere, and stick around for postgame fireworks on Fridays and Saturdays for the Dash. During the winter months, you can catch the Twin City Thunderbirds hockey games at the Winston-Salem Fairgrounds.
Bring a lawn chair and catch live music outdoors during the warmer months. Summer concert series and special events bring bands to downtown parks and public spaces throughout Winston-Salem.
Slow down at Kernersville Lake Park with a picnic, a fishing rod, or a walk along the short nature trail. Other popular outdoor spots near Kernersville are Cascade Preserve, Triad Park, and the Kernersville Mountain Bike Park.
Make the short drive north to Pilot Mountain State Park, where you can find long-range views for all ability levels. An ADA-accessible overlook is located at the upper lot, a short hike will take you around the iconic Pilot Knob, or you can climb the entire mountain on the Grindstone Trail. Head to Hanging Rock State Park for five different waterfalls, strenuous hikes, and some of the best mountain biking in the state. There is also a seasonally open lake here.
Cool off in the summer by going tubing on the Dan River with General Dan Tubing Co. or head to one of the local swimming holes. The lake at Hanging Rock or RiverPark at Cooleemee Falls are very popular or check out one of the many waterfalls in the area. Lower Cascades, Shacktown Falls, or Widows Creek Falls all offer shallow wading pools.

Shopping

Spend the day hunting for secondhand finds at Winston-Salem’s secondhand stores like The Snob Shop and Still Grimey for clothes and McKay’s for books and collectibles.
Browse the shops at Thruway Shopping Center, where national retailers mix with local favorites like Southern Home & Kitchen and Great Outdoor Provision Co.
Keep exploring along the Stratford Road Shopping District, where you’ll find independent shops like Fiddle & Fig, Gaia, and House of Plants.
Shop inside the historic buildings of Reynolda Village, once home to the Reynolda Estate’s post office, school, smokehouse, dairy barns, and more. Today, you’ll find one-of-a-kind boutiques, restaurants, and specialty shops tucked inside.
Continue along Reynolda Road Shopping District for an eclectic mix of independent shops. Popular stops include The Boho Depot, Elizabeth’s at Hanes Park, and Rebecca & Co.
Wander through the Downtown Arts District, where shop windows along Trade and Liberty streets showcase vintage clothing, jewelry, candles, handmade gifts, and work from local artists.
Bring home something made locally from one of Winston-Salem’s art galleries. Visual Index, North Trade Street Arts Center, and Red Dog Gallery by AFAS are all great stops.
Plan a November visit around the Piedmont Craftsmen’s Fair, when artists from across the region fill the Benton Convention Center with handmade pieces. You can visit the Piedmont Craftsmen Gallery all year.
Take a detour to downtown Kernersville for some shopping along Main Street, where you’ll find clothing boutiques and specialty stores.
Keep an eye out for maker markets and seasonal pop-ups, which are often one of the best ways to discover local artists and businesses you might otherwise miss.

Food & Drink

Sample dishes from several locally owned spots while learning more about the city between bites with Taste Carolina Gourmet Food Tours.
Spend an afternoon wine tasting in the Yadkin Valley, where there are 45 wineries within 45 minutes of Winston-Salem.
Create your own “Craft Draft Crawl” through Winston-Salem’s local breweries. Many downtown taprooms are walkable or a short drive from each other.
Watch clouds of liquid nitrogen roll across the counter as your ice cream is made to order at Chill Nitro Creamery.
Order a Neapolitan-style pizza from Mission Pizza Napoletana, a smashburger from Heff’s Burger Club, or pastries from Bobby Boy Bakeshop. All are past James Beard nominees.
Pick up traditional Moravian sugar cake or a sleeve of thin Moravian cookies at Winkler Bakery in the Old Salem Historic District, where they keep Moravian culinary traditions alive. Mrs. Hanes Moravian Cookies, Wilkerson Moravian Bakery, and Dewey’s Bakery are three other popular spots for Moravian baked goods.
Take advantage of nice weather and enjoy the variety of outdoor dining in Winston-Salem at places like Betty on Burke, River Birch Lodge, or Spring House Restaurant.
Build your own coffee crawl through Winston-Salem’s independent cafés. Camino Bakery, Ardmore Coffee, and The Coffee Mill are just a few of the great places nearby.
Grab a drink at one of our award-winning local distilleries. Broad Branch Distillery is convenient to downtown, while Sutler’s Spirits Co. (events only) and Old Nick Williams Co. give you more options to explore nearby.
Browse popular markets like Cobblestone Farmers Market or the Fairgrounds Farmers Market for produce, baked goods, crafts, and more.

Events

Experience Art Crush, when sidewalks fill with artist booths, performers, and food vendors in the Downtown Arts District. The event now takes place on four Fridays throughout the year, with a different theme for each night.
Catch an independent film or documentary during the RiverRun International Film Festival.
Celebrate Juneteenth with music, art, food, and educational programming throughout Winston-Salem.
Watch cyclists fly through downtown streets during Gears & Guitars over Memorial Day weekend when bike races happen alongside outdoor concerts.
Join the crowds downtown for Winston-Salem’s Pride Festival & Parade. The annual celebration brings together live entertainment, vendors, community organizations, and a colorful parade through the city.
Enjoy Latin American music, dance, and food during Hispanic League FIESTA. The downtown festival fills the streets with performances and cultural experiences as Winston-Salem celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month.
Fill your tote bag with new reads during the Bookmarks Festival of Books & Authors. The annual September event brings writers to downtown Winston-Salem for talks, panels, readings, and book signings.
Follow the smell of funnel cakes and fried fair food to the Carolina Classic Fair each fall. Spend the day riding carnival rides, watching live entertainment, and exploring agricultural exhibits at one of North Carolina’s largest fairs.
Attend the biggest Earth Day celebration and one-day environmental education event in North Carolina at the Piedmont Earth Day Fair.
Turn up the holiday music and drive through the annual Tanglewood Park Festival of Lights. Miles of glowing displays transform the park each winter, making this one of Forsyth County’s longest-running holiday traditions.